A New Zealander who came to Huddersfield for a short rugby union sabbatical in September 2000 has just started work as the new West Yorkshire Rugby Union Development Officer.

Hamish Pratt, 33, succeeds John Lawn, who has become the Coach Development Officer for Yorkshire and the North East.

A civil engineer, Pratt played club rugby in Otago before joining Huddersfield RFC for what turned out to be rather longer than originally planned when he left Dunedin.

A back-row forward, he has captained the first team at Lockwood Park and has also been involved in a rugby development role and commercial administration at the club.

He has also coached the Huddersfield University team for six seasons, helping them winning their Yorkshire Cup this season.

"I'm looking forward to the new job as a great opportunity," he says. "I've been involved in club rugby for so long and I'd like to take that expertise and experience and hopefully grow within the RFU.

"I've been lucky. I've got my Level Three coaching award, got my honours degree in Health & Sports Sciences at Huddersfield University in November and married an English girl, so I've a lot to thank English and Huddersfield rugby for."